He was a brave man as were all those of his generation - he was born on February 10 1899 and died on January 27 2004, aged 104. Lance Corporal James Lovell MM, who died at his home in Bristol two weeks before his 105th birthday. He was believed to be Britain's last surviving holder of a Great War gallantry medal. He served with the 8th Berkshires, and won his MM in the German Spring Offensive in the Somme in 1918. Mr Lovell, a retired blacksmith, was awarded his MM for protecting a lieutenant from enemy fire by flanking him as he travelled along battlefield lines at the Somme to his base. He signed up in 1915, lying about his age, to enter the 8th Royal Berkshire Regiment and join his two older brothers. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article1004785.ec
